A woman named Abigail believed she was in a romantic relationship with a famous actor. The messages felt real. The voice sounded right. The video looked authentic. And the love felt personal. 

By the time her family realized what was happening, more than $81,000 was gone — and so was the paid-off home she planned to retire in.

We spoke with Vivian Ruvalcaba on my “Beyond Connected” podcast about what happened to her mother and how quickly the scam unfolded. What began as online messages quietly escalated into financial ruin and the loss of a family home. Vivian is Abigail’s daughter. She is now her mother’s advocate, investigator, chief advocate and protector.

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FROM FRIENDLY TEXT TO FINANCIAL TRAP: THE NEW SCAM TREND

How the scam quietly started

The scam did not begin with a phone call or a threat. It began with a message. “Facebook is where it started,” Vivian explained. “She was directly messaged by an individual.” That individual claimed to be Steve Burton, a longtime star of “General Hospital.” Abigail watched the show regularly. She knew his face. She knew his voice.

After a short time, the conversation moved off Facebook. “He then led her to create an account with WhatsApp,” Vivian said. “When I discovered that, and I looked at the messaging, you can see all the manipulation.”

That shift mattered. This is a major red flag I often warn people about. When a scammer moves a conversation from a public platform like Facebook to an encrypted app like WhatsApp, it is usually deliberate and designed to avoid detection.

Grooming through secrecy and isolation

At first, Abigail told no one. “She was very, very secretive,” Vivian said. “She didn’t share any of this with anyone. Not my father. Not me.” 

That secrecy was not accidental. “She was being groomed not to share this information,” Vivian explained.

This is a tactic I see over and over again in scams like this. Once a scammer feels they have someone emotionally invested, the next step is to isolate them. They push victims to keep secrets and avoid talking to family, friends or police. When Vivian finally started asking questions, her mother reacted in a way she never had before. “She said, ‘It’s none of your business,’” Vivian said. “That was shocking.”

The deepfake video that changed everything

When Vivian threatened to go to the police, her mother finally revealed what had been happening. “That’s when she showed me the AI video,” Vivian said. In the clip, a man who looked and sounded like Steve Burton spoke directly to Abigail and referred to her as “Abigail, my queen.” The message felt personal. It used her name and promised love and reassurance.

“It wasn’t grainy,” Vivian said. “To the naked eye, you couldn’t tell.” Still, Vivian sensed something was off. “I looked at it, and I knew right away,” she said. “Mom, this is not real. This is AI.”

Her mother disagreed and argued back. She pointed to the face and the voice. She also believed the phone calls proved it. That is what makes deepfakes so dangerous. When a video looks and sounds real, it can override common sense and even years of trust within a family.

From gift cards to life savings

The money flowed slowly at first. A $500 gift card request raised the first alarm. Then, money orders and Zelle payments. What Vivian discovered next still haunts her. “She pulled out a sandwich baggie,” Vivian said. “About 110 gift cards ranging from $25 up to $500.” Those cards were purchased with credit cards. Cash was mailed. Bitcoin was sent. In total, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) tallied the losses at $81,000. And the scam was not finished.

When the scammer took her home

After draining Abigail’s available cash, the scam did not stop. It escalated again. The scammer began pushing her to sell the one asset she still had: her home. “He was pressing her to sell,” Vivian told me. “Because he wanted more money.” The pressure came wrapped in romance. The scammer told Abigail they would buy a beach house together and start a new life. In her mind, this was not a scam. It was a plan for the future. That belief set off a chain reaction.

How the home sale happened so quickly

Abigail sold her condo for $350,000, even though similar homes in the area were worth closer to $550,000 at the time. The sale happened quickly. There was no family involvement. Her husband was still living in the home, yet he did not sign the documents. “She just gave away about $200,000 in equity,” Vivian said. “They stole it.”

What makes this even more troubling is who bought the property. According to Vivian, the buyer was a wholesale real estate company that moved fast and asked very few questions. Messages later reviewed by the family show Abigail actively trying to hide the sale from her husband. In one text exchange, she warned the buyer not to park in the driveway because her husband had access to a Ring camera. That alone should have raised concerns. Instead, the buyers went along with it. “They appeased whatever she asked for,” Vivian said. “They were getting a property she was basically giving away.”

These buyers were not the original scammers, but they benefited from the pressure the scammer created. The scammer pushed Abigail to sell. The buyers took advantage of the situation and the deeply discounted price. The home was not extra money, it was Abigail’s retirement. It was the only real security she and her husband had after decades of work. By the time Vivian uncovered the sale, Abigail was days away from sending another $70,000 from the proceeds to the scammer. Had that transfer gone through, nearly everything would have been gone.

This is the part of the story people struggle to process. Modern AI-driven scams are no longer limited to draining bank accounts or gift cards. They now push victims into selling real property, often with opportunistic players waiting on the other side of the deal.

Why police and lawyers could not stop the damage

Vivian contacted the police the same day she realized her mother was being scammed. “They assigned an investigator,” she told me. “He was already very aware of the situation and how little they can help.” That reality is difficult for families to hear, but it is common. 

Many large-scale scams operate overseas. The money moves quickly through gift cards, wire transfers and crypto. By the time victims realize what is happening, the trail is often cold. “Most of these scammers are out of the country,” Vivian said. “No one is being held accountable.”

When the case shifted from criminal to civil

Law enforcement documented the losses and opened a case, but there was little they could do to recover the money or stop what had already happened. The deeper damage came from the home sale, which fell into a legal gray area far beyond a typical fraud report. Once the condo was sold, the situation shifted from a criminal scam to a complex civil fight.

Vivian immediately began searching for legal help. The first attorneys she contacted discouraged her. One told her it could cost more than $150,000 to pursue a case. Another failed to act even after being told about Abigail’s mental illness and history of bipolar disorder. At one point, an eviction attorney testified in court that Vivian never mentioned the romance scam, something she strongly disputes.

By March, Abigail and her husband were forced out of their home. By October, they were fully evicted and locked out. Both parents are now displaced. Abigail is living with family out of state. Her husband, now in his mid-70s, is still working because the home was his retirement. 

It was only after reaching out through personal connections that Vivian found an attorney willing to fight. That attorney is now pursuing the case on a contingency basis, meaning the family does not pay unless there is a recovery. The legal argument centers on Abigail’s mental capacity and whether she could legally understand and execute a home sale under the circumstances. The buyers dispute that claim. The outcome will be decided in court.

This is why stories like this rarely end with a police arrest or quick resolution. Once a scam crosses into real estate and civil law, families are often left to navigate an expensive and exhausting legal system on their own. And by then, the damage has already been done.

Why shame keeps scams hidden

Many victims never report scams. Only about 22% contact the FBI. Fewer than 30% reach out to their local police department. Vivian understands why that happens. “She’s ashamed,” Vivian said. “I know she is.” That shame protects scammers. Silence gives them room to move on and target the next victim.

INSIDE A SCAMMER’S DAY AND HOW THEY TARGET YOU

Red flags families cannot ignore

This case reveals warning signs every family needs to recognize early.

Red flags to watch for

• Sudden secrecy about finances or online activity
• Requests for gift cards, cash or crypto
• Pressure to move conversations to encrypted apps
• AI videos or voice messages used as proof of identity
• Emotional manipulation tied to urgency or romance
• Requests to sell property or move large assets

I want to be very clear about this. It does not matter how smart you are or how careful you think you are. You can become a victim and not realize it until it is too late.

Tips to stay safe and protect your family

These lessons come from both Vivian’s experience and the patterns I see repeatedly in modern scams. Some are emotional. Others are technical. Together, they can help families spot trouble sooner and limit the damage when something feels off.

1) Watch for platform changes

Moving a conversation from Facebook to WhatsApp or another encrypted app is not harmless. Scammers do this to avoid moderation and make messages harder to trace or flag.

2) Question AI proof

Deepfake videos and cloned voices can look and sound convincing. Never treat a video or voice message as proof of identity, especially when money or property is involved.

3) Slow down major financial decisions

Scammers create urgency on purpose. Any request involving large sums, property sales or retirement assets should pause until a trusted third party reviews it.

4) Never send gift cards, cash or crypto

Legitimate people do not ask for payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency. These methods are a common scam tactic because they are hard to trace and nearly impossible to recover.

5) Talk openly as a family

Silence helps scammers. Regular conversations about finances, online contacts and unusual requests make it easier to spot problems early and step in without shame.

6) Reduce online exposure with a data removal service

Scammers research their targets using public databases. They pull names, phone numbers, relatives and property records. Removing that data reduces how easily criminals can build a profile.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

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7) Use strong antivirus protection

Malware links can expose financial accounts without obvious signs. Good antivirus software can block malicious links before they lead to deeper access or data theft.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

8) Protect assets early

Living trusts and proper estate planning add protection before a crisis hits. They can help prevent rushed property sales and limit who can legally move assets without oversight.

9) Use conservatorship when capacity is limited

“Conservatorship is the only way,” Vivian said. “Power of attorney may not be enough.” When a loved one has diminished capacity, a conservatorship adds court oversight and can stop unauthorized financial decisions before serious damage occurs.

Kurt’s key takeaways

This scam did not rely on sloppy emails or obvious mistakes. It used emotion, familiarity and AI that looked real. Once trust was built, the damage followed quickly. Money disappeared. Secrecy grew. Pressure increased. The home was sold. What makes this case especially painful is the speed. A few messages led to gift cards. Gift cards turned into life savings. Life savings became the loss of a home built over decades. Most families never expect this to happen. Many do not talk about it until it has already happened. The lesson is clear. Awareness matters more than intelligence. Open conversations matter more than embarrassment. Acting early matters more than trying to undo the damage later. If you want to hear Vivian tell this story in her own words and understand how fast these scams unfold, listen to our full conversation on the “Beyond Connected” podcast.

If a deepfake video showed up on your parent’s phone tonight, would you know before everything was gone? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Beast Industries, owned by YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, announced on Monday that it has acquired Step, a banking app designed for teens and young adults. The move comes a couple of months after Donaldson announced plans to start a new YouTube channel centered on personal finance and investing. His main channel has 466 million subscribers and has long been one of the most popular on YouTube, frequently featuring videos where Donaldson gives away huge sums of money.

MrBeast’s other business ventures also include a chain of ghost restaurants, the Feastables snack brand, and an upcoming phone service company called Beast Mobile. This is his company’s first dip into financial services.

Step is one of many mobile-only banking services, similar to Monzo or Revolut, but specifically aimed at teens, which may explain why Donaldson chose it over its rivals — his audience is mainly Gen-Z and Gen Alpha. Step’s investors also include Gen-Z influencers Josh Richards and Charli D’Amelio, the latter of whom has appeared on MrBeast’s YouTube channel.

Losing a dog can make your stomach drop and your thoughts race. First, you check the yard. Then you walk the block. After that, you refresh local Facebook groups again and again, hoping for a sign.

Now, Ring wants to turn your entire neighborhood into extra eyes with help from AI. Its Search Party feature uses nearby cameras to spot lost dogs, and it is now available nationwide to anyone who needs help finding a missing pet. For the first time, you do not need to own a Ring camera to use it.

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10 SMART DEVICES THAT MAKE PET PARENTING EASIER

What is Ring’s Search Party feature?

Search Party is a community-powered tool that helps reunite lost dogs with their families faster. When someone reports a missing dog in the Ring app, nearby outdoor Ring cameras scan recent footage using AI. The goal stays simple. Find dogs that look like the one reported missing. If a possible match shows up, the camera owner receives an alert with a photo of the lost dog and a video clip. From there, they can ignore the alert or step in to help. As a result, sharing always stays optional, and pressure stays off.

How Search Party actually works

Here is what happens once a lost dog post goes live.

• First, a pet owner posts a lost dog alert in the Ring app
• Next, nearby outdoor Ring cameras scan footage using AI
• Then, camera owners receive alerts if a match appears
• After that, neighbors can share video clips or snapshots
• Finally, messages and calls stay private with no phone numbers shared

Search Party now works without a Ring camera

This update changes everything. Previously, only people with Ring devices could use Search Party. Now, anyone in the U.S. can download the free Ring Neighbors app, register and post a lost dog alert. Because of that shift, dog owners can tap into an existing camera network without buying hardware or paying for a subscription. At the same time, neighbors without cameras can still help by spreading alerts and watching for sightings.

Lost pets already represent one of the most common post types in the Ring Neighbors app, with more than 1 million lost or found pet reports shared last year alone. With an estimated 60 million U.S. households owning at least one dog, the potential reach of Search Party is massive.

How to start a Search Party for your dog

Getting started is pretty straightforward.  Download the Ring app for free in the App Store or Google Play if you don’t already have it. Anyone can create a Lost Dog Post in the Ring app.

If the post qualifies, the app walks you through activating Search Party step by step. You share photos and basic details about your dog. Once active, nearby cameras begin scanning automatically.

Search Party alerts are temporary. When you start a Search Party in the Ring app, it runs for a few hours at a time. If your dog has not been found and remains missing, you need to renew the Search Party or start a new one so nearby cameras continue scanning for matches.

When you find your dog, you can update the post to let the neighborhood know the search is over.

AI TECHNOLOGY HELPS REUNITE LOST DOGS WITH THEIR OWNERS

What happens when a Ring camera spots your lost dog

If your outdoor Ring camera spots a possible match, you stay in control the entire time. You receive an alert with a photo of the missing dog and a clip from your camera. From there, you decide what happens next. You can ignore the alert or help by sharing footage or contacting the owner through the app. Throughout the process, your phone number stays private.

Ring says Search Party has already delivered dramatic results. In one case, Kylee from Wichita, Kansas, was reunited with her mixed-breed dog, Nyx, in just 15 minutes after he slipped through a small hole under a backyard fence. A neighbor’s Ring camera captured video of Nyx and shared it through the app, giving Kylee her first and only lead. “I was blown away,” Kylee said, noting that even dogs with microchips often go unrecognized if they lack a collar. She credits that shared video for bringing Nyx home so quickly, adding that she does not think she would have found him without the Ring app.

Nyx is far from the only success story. Ring says Search Party has helped reunite more than one lost dog per day, including dogs like Xochitl in Houston, Truffle in Bakersfield, Lainey in Surprise, Zola in Ellenwood, Toby in Las Vegas, Blu in Erlanger, Zeus in Chicago and Coco in Stockton, with more reunions happening every day.

How to turn Ring’s Search Party on or off

Search Party remains optional and adjustable. You can enable or disable it at any time inside the Ring app.

• Start by opening the Ring app and heading to the main dashboard.
• Then tap the menu icon.
• Go to Control Center and select Search Party.
• From there, you can turn Search for Lost Pets on or off for each camera.

Ring commits $1M to help shelters reunite lost dogs

Alongside the expansion, Ring is committing $1 million to equip animal shelters with camera systems. The company aims to support up to 4,000 shelters across the U.S. By bringing shelters into the network, Ring hopes dogs picked up by shelters can reconnect with their owners faster. In addition, the company already works with groups like Petco Love and Best Friends Animal Society and says it remains open to new partnerships.

Ring is also encouraging animal shelters and organizations to reach out directly about collaboration opportunities.

Privacy concerns remain around Ring’s Search Party feature

Search Party launched last fall with some pushback. Critics raised concerns about privacy and Ring’s broader ties to law enforcement. Ring says participation stays voluntary and footage sharing remains optional. Still, the feature turns on by default for compatible outdoor cameras, which has drawn attention. Even so, the company appears confident and is promoting Search Party in a Super Bowl commercial.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

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PEOPLE LET THEIR PETS DECIDE WHO THEY DATE, NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS

Kurt’s key takeaways

Search Party taps into something familiar. Neighbors helping neighbors during a stressful moment. By opening the feature to everyone, Ring removes a major barrier and increases the chances of fast reunions. Whether this tool becomes a staple or sparks deeper privacy debates will depend on how communities use it.

Would you want neighborhood cameras helping to find your lost dog, or does that feel like too much surveillance?  Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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